Protest rally denounces digital radio stations closure

DBC ceased to broadcast original programming last night despite a huge crowd that turned out to protest over allegations of political interference at the troubled radio station.

Digital Broadcasting Corporation, which pledged to continue airing music for as long as it could, estimated the crowd at 70,000 as its three-day sit-in outside the government headquarters in Admiralty came to a close. The police said far fewer people attended, about 4,100.

The station is running short of cash and facing a takeover amid a boardroom feud with shareholder Bill Wong Cho-bau, a Beijing loyalist. Supporters were hoping the station's week-long "voluntary broadcasting campaign" which ended last night would convince the government to step in.

After the station's 11pm deadline to cease broadcasting passed without action, DBC founder Albert Cheng King-hon told the crowd the station would continue to air music. Doing so would allow it to preserve its licence which requires it to broadcast 24 hours a day.

"We have to keep standing for press freedom and the city's core values, or the city will die," Cheng said, vowing to keep fighting to restore regular programming. "I will not sell my shares for sure!"

Programme host and former lawmaker Andrew Cheng Kar-foo called on the crowd to continue the fight. Several activists, including Tsang Kin-shing of rebel broadcaster Citizens' Radio, said they would rally again today. Another host, Lau Nam-kwong, who went on a hunger strike on Saturday night, continued his protest last night.